Popular cryptocurrency exchange Bitfinex came under DDoS attack on Tuesday. Hong Kong-based Bitfinex has sent out several emails to its clients to inform them of the disruption, but the exchange is currently accessible - albeit only after visitors undergo a check by DDoS protection service, Cloudflare:

“We have taken steps to identify and block the attack. The system is returning to normal.,” said Bitfinex.

The timing of the attack coincides with Bitcoin’s unrelenting rally towards new all-time highs. At press time, the digital currency is trading at $1125 - only about $15.00 away from taking out the January high at $1139.89 - on Luxembourg-based exchange, Bitstamp.

Over the last several weeks, Bitfinex has become the top bitcoin exchange in the world based on daily volume. Coinmarketcap rankings show that 16.69% of global bitcoin turnover has passed though Bitfinex in the last 24h.

Bitfinex overtook the top three Chinese exchanges - BTCChina, OKCoin and Huobi - after warnings issued by the PBoC forced many trading venues domiciled in China to halt cryptocurrency withdrawals, which also sent many investors fleeing to P2P marketplaces like LocalBitcoins.